TODAY IN MISSION YEARBOOK
Mission Yearbook: Minute for Mission: General Assembly is underway
Presbytery and synod leaders heard from Kate Trigger Duffert, an Associate Stated Clerk and the Director of General Assembly Planning, about what to expect during General Assembly, the 227th in denominational history — and the important role mid council leaders have in making the Assembly a success.
Speaking at the recent Mid Council Leaders Gathering, Trigger Duffert called the biennial Assembly, which began June 21 and concludes July 2, “the broadest council of the whole church.”
“The business that comes to GA does not come from some mystical location,” she said, but instead originates in conversations in sessions across the country, from people elected to serve on committees, and from staff. “It all comes together for conversation and discernment,” she said.
GA is also an event, one that’s important to thousands of Presbyterians, and it’s “a community of faith where we worship together,” she said.
The General Assembly Standing Rules “are our core values,” she said. Those values include the worship of God, creation of community and faithful discernment. “That’s the foundation we work with planning the Assembly,” which carries the theme “Persevering Toward Wholeness” and uses Rev. 22:2 as its featured Bible verse.
When Trigger Duffert displayed a slide of the proposed docket for the 227th General Assembly, which is being held online and at the Baird Center in Milwaukee, some of the mid council leaders actually whooped it up. The biggest change in the schedule, she said, is the Community Day set for June 27. That day will include a community action and a Town Square, where Presbyterian-adjacent groups can set up tables to interact with those in attendance.
The election of the Moderators will be on July 2. It’ll be commissioners’ final action before engaging in closing worship.
The Rev. Jihyun Oh, the Stated Clerk of the General Assembly and Executive Director of the Unified Agency, asked the first question: How can mid council leaders be helpful in helping to select GA committee leaders?
Those selections are ultimately made by the Moderators of the 226th General Assembly, the Revs. Tony Larson and CeCe Armstrong, Trigger Duffert said. But mid council leaders are encouraged to forward the names of people they know who have the skills needed to moderate a committee. “Let us know,” she said, “and we will pass those names along to the Co-Moderators.”
Larson said that commissioners to the 225th and 226th General Assembly are also eligible to serve as committee leaders, but the priority is commissioners to the 227th General Assembly.
Trigger Duffert said the Town Square is the successor to exhibit halls of past Assemblies. “It’s not a massive production,” she said. There won’t be any booths — just tables so that groups can interact with those in attendance.
Once again, seminary luncheons will be available, she said.
Mike Ferguson, Editor, Presbyterian News Service (Click here to read original PNS Story)
Let us join in prayer for:
Joseph Moore, Ministry Relations Officer, Development Office, The Presbyterian Foundation
Roberto Morales, Research Analyst, Research Services, Administrative Service Group
Let us pray:
Father, may we, empowered by the Spirit, follow the example of your Son, whose incarnation brough healing, wholeness and redemption. Be present to your church in difficult places as we witness to the good news until “every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus is Lord.” In Chrit’s name. Amen.